Human conjunctiva and rat conjunctiva constitutively express the NLRP3 inflammasome components.

<p>Human conjunctiva was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and NLRP3 was shown to be highly expressed in the epithelium as indicated by pink staining (A). Arrows indicate epithelial layer of conjunctiva; arrowheads indicate goblet cells. Isotype controls were negative. Rat conjunctiva was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy (B) and all three of the inflammasome components NLRP3, caspase 1, and ASC were identified as demonstrated by the red peri-nuclear staining. The green UEA staining indicates goblet cell secretory product, denoting the location of goblet cells in the conjunctiva. Arrows indicate goblet cells. The mouse isotype controls (B) were negative as were the rabbit isotype controls (not shown). Epi, epithelium.